news | April 08, 2026

Disability & Long-Term Care

Short-term disability

No one can predict if and when a disabling illness or injury will happen. Short-term disability is a type of insurance that will pay a percentage of your salary for a specified amount of time, if you are hurt or ill and cannot perform the duties of your job. KU Medical Center has partnered with Aflac and the KUMC Credit Union to offer a short-term disability benefit for benefits-eligible employees.

Plan snapshot

  • You pay in full for this benefit.
  • Benefits are paid directly to you unless you choose otherwise.
  • You select the amount of your monthly benefit up to 60% of your monthly compensation, with a maximum of $6,000 a month.
  • Coverage is portable, which means you can take it with you if you change jobs or retire (with certain stipulations).
  • Coverage begins after a 14 calendar day waiting period and continues for up to six months.
  • Premiums are paid through a direct deposit account.
  • Benefits are paid in addition to sick pay and vacation leave; it does not replace or reduce accruals.

Who can benefit

  • Recently hired employees who haven't yet accrued adequate sick leave and vacation time.
  • Employees who have used much of their sick/vacation time already.
  • Employees on maternity leave.
  • Employees who just want the additional protection.

Enrollment

To participate you must enroll within the time frame specified for medical insurance. Newly hired or newly eligible employees have 31 days from their date of hire, or becoming eligible, to enroll. Open enrollment is available May 15 - June 15 each year.

Note: While this benefit is designed to complement the excellent employee benefit programs offered by the state of Kansas, this benefit is not a part of the state's benefits package. Human Resources negotiated this benefit to fill in the six month gap it takes long-term disability coverage to take effect. Open enrollment for short-term disability will occur every May. Open enrollment for the state's benefits will occur every October.

Long-term disability

We provide and pay for a long-term disability benefit through the Kansas Public Employee Retirement System. There is a six-month waiting period and the monthly benefit is up to 60% of monthly salary. Learn more here.

Long-term care

You may choose a long-term care program available through two insurance carriers for you and your family members (spouses, parents, children, grandparents, siblings and in-laws). You pay the full cost for this benefit. For more important information about coverage and enrollment deadlines, please see details.

For more information about these benefits, contact your HR Benefits team.